- Shadow gap: The most popular contemporary profile — horizontal rebated joint, strong shadow line. Best all-round choice for residential extensions and new builds.
- Rainscreen: Open-joint battens with maximum shadow depth and superior ventilation. The most architectural profile for high-spec projects.
- Board-on-board: Double-layer vertical battens — bold textured appearance, excellent weather protection, no continuous joint top to bottom.
- Feather edge & loglap: Traditional and rustic profiles — barn conversions, rural buildings, garden structures.
- Tongue & groove: Most versatile — works as exterior cladding or interior lining.
- Vertical vs horizontal: Both perform identically. Vertical creates stronger emphasis on building height; horizontal is the UK default.
Choosing the right Siberian larch cladding profile is as important to the finished result as choosing the species itself — the same naturally durable timber can look dramatically different depending on whether it is specified as a refined shadow gap, a bold open-joint rainscreen, a textured board-on-board system, or a traditional feather edge. This guide covers every Siberian larch profile available from UK stock — what each one looks like, where it works best, how it is installed, and which orientation (vertical or horizontal) suits different building types and design intents.
Siberian larch vertical cladding — the vertical orientation creates a strong emphasis on building height and works particularly well on tall, narrow elevations and gable ends. Both vertical and horizontal orientations perform identically in terms of weather resistance and durability.
Shadow Gap — The Most Popular Larch Profile
Shadow gap horizontal Siberian larch cladding — the rebated board edge creates a recessed joint line that reads as a continuous horizontal shadow across the facade. The most widely specified larch profile for contemporary UK residential projects.
The board face is rebated along the lower edge — when fixed in sequence, each board's rebate creates a recessed joint that reads as a continuous dark shadow line across the facade. This is the defining profile of contemporary UK timber cladding over the past decade. It works in natural honey-gold, oiled, or fully weathered silver-grey finishes, and suits both horizontal and vertical orientation equally well. The double shadow gap variant uses a deeper 24mm board for a bolder, more pronounced joint on larger facades.
Rainscreen — The Most Architectural Open-Joint Profile
Siberian larch rainscreen cladding using mixed board widths — combining narrow and wide battens on the same elevation creates an irregular, architectural rhythm that distinguishes a project from standard single-width profiles. The open joints between boards provide superior ventilation and a deep shadow effect.
Open-joint battens fixed with visible gaps between each board — the most architectural larch profile available, creating deep shadow lines and superior ventilation behind the facade compared to closed-joint profiles. Rainscreen is increasingly the default specification for high-quality contemporary residential and commercial projects where the cladding is intended as a primary architectural statement. Mixing board widths — as shown above — adds visual rhythm and is a distinguishing detail used by architects to differentiate a project. For hidden fixings, the 25x95mm extra secret fixing profile uses the Tiga facade system for a completely clean board face.
Board-on-Board — Maximum Texture and Weather Protection
Siberian larch board-on-board cladding — two layers of vertical battens, with the upper layer overlapping the gaps in the base layer. The result is a bold, three-dimensional textured facade with excellent weather protection, since no single joint runs continuously from top to bottom of the elevation.
Board-on-board cladding uses a base layer of vertical battens fixed directly to the support structure with deliberate gaps between boards, then a second layer of battens fixed over those gaps to overlap the joints. This creates a fully weatherproof vertical cladding system without relying on a single continuous joint — water that penetrates the outer layer gap is shed by the inner layer beneath. The result is a deeply textured, three-dimensional facade with strong vertical rhythm, popular on barn conversions, contemporary extensions, and any project where a bolder vertical statement is the design intent.
Tongue & Groove, Feather Edge, Loglap and Shiplap
| Profile | Sizes available | Cost/m² | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tongue & Groove V-Joint | 20x115mm · 20x146mm | £38–£55 | Most versatile — exterior cladding and interior lining |
| Feather Edge | 26x146mm | £40–£55 | Rural buildings, barn conversions, traditional sheds |
| Loglap | 24x146mm | £42–£58 | Cabin-style buildings, garden rooms, rustic character |
| Shiplap | 20x146mm | £38–£50 | Sheds, outbuildings, premium budget alternative |
Vertical vs Horizontal Larch Cladding — Which to Choose
Every Siberian larch profile can be installed either horizontally (the UK default) or vertically. Both orientations perform identically in terms of weather resistance and durability when correctly detailed — the choice is primarily about visual effect and architectural intent.
When horizontal works best
Horizontal cladding is the standard UK specification — it suits most residential extensions, garden rooms, and contemporary new builds. The horizontal line tends to make a building appear wider and more grounded, and it is the orientation most installers are most experienced fitting, which can translate to marginally lower labour costs on standard projects.
When vertical works best
Vertical cladding creates a stronger emphasis on building height — particularly effective on tall, narrow elevations, gable ends, and contemporary architecture where a more dramatic linear statement is the design intent. Vertical board-on-board is especially popular for barn conversions referencing traditional agricultural vertical boarding. Vertical installation requires horizontal counter battens fixed first, with the vertical support battens and cladding boards fixed over them — this typically adds a small labour premium (10–15%) over standard horizontal installation due to the additional batten layer.
Many of the most distinctive contemporary larch cladding projects mix vertical and horizontal cladding across different elevations or sections of the same building — horizontal shadow gap on the main facade, vertical board-on-board on a gable end or porch element, for example. This is entirely achievable with Siberian larch and is increasingly specified by architects to create visual hierarchy and distinguish different parts of a building's massing.
Which Larch Profile Is Right for Your Project?
What cladding profiles are available in Siberian larch?
Shadow gap, double shadow gap, tongue and groove V-joint, rainscreen, feather edge, board-on-board batten, loglap, and shiplap. Each creates a distinct visual rhythm — shadow gap and rainscreen for contemporary architecture, feather edge and loglap for rural and traditional buildings, tongue and groove for versatile exterior and interior use.
Should I choose vertical or horizontal Siberian larch cladding?
Both perform identically in durability and weather resistance with correct ventilated batten detailing. Horizontal is the UK default and suits most residential projects. Vertical creates a stronger emphasis on building height — works well on tall narrow elevations, gable ends and contemporary architecture. Vertical adds a small labour premium for the additional counter batten layer.
What is board-on-board larch cladding?
Two layers of vertical battens — a base layer with gaps between boards, and a second layer overlapping those gaps. Creates a fully weatherproof system with strong texture and deep shadow lines, since no single joint runs continuously top to bottom of the elevation.
Which Siberian larch profile is best for a contemporary house?
Shadow gap is the most specified — clean horizontal rhythm, suits most residential extensions and new builds. Rainscreen is the choice for the boldest architectural statement, with open joints, deeper shadow, and superior ventilation. Both work well in natural, oiled, or weathered silver-grey finishes.
Siberian Larch Cladding — All Profiles from UK Stock
We supply Siberian larch cladding in shadow gap, rainscreen, board-on-board, tongue and groove, feather edge, loglap and shiplap profiles from UK stock. FSC and PEFC certified. Tell us your project type and elevation dimensions and we'll recommend the right profile. Nationwide delivery 7–14 days.